Experience Amsterdam
With excellent public transport, travelling around in Amsterdam is both quick and easy. Amsterdam is the ideal place for catching up with your colleagues outside of congress hours! With an abundance of bars, cafés, restaurants, shops and hotels, the capital of the Netherlands has a place for you.
Amsterdam originated from a dam on the Amstel River (hence the name). As well as this, the city boasts many nicknames, including Mokum, (derived from the Hebrew word Makom, which means ‘place’) as well as the ‘Venice of the North’, due to Amsterdam’s 165 canals. This is actually more canals than Venice. Furthermore, Amsterdam boasts more bridges than Paris, as well as nearly 7,000 monumental buildings.
It is hard to picture Amsterdam and not think of bicycles. Some claim the bicycles outnumber the population. The city is home to 850,000 inhabitants, and (allegedly) over a million bicycles, with over half a million residents collectively commuting over 2 million kilometres each day by bicycle in the city. Small wonder that bicycle parking stations are as common as those for cars.
Amsterdam has a great variety of bars, nightclubs, cafés and amazing events. There are well over 1000 different eateries and watering holes ready to cater to your every request.
Historical Amsterdam
The Netherlands’ capital city has been a cultural and commercial hub in Europe for centuries. Beginning as a 13th-century fishing village, Amsterdam has grown into a major centre for business, tourism and culture. During the 17th-century (the ‘Golden Age’), the city became famous as a leading hub for trade and art. In the 1960s, it emerged as Europe’s magical centre. People have made the city unique; it has a highly individual, spirited and young-at-heart character. Amsterdammers are known for their friendly, tolerant and cosmopolitan nature; that's why not too surprisingly, most speak at least two languages (English is almost always one of them). With inhabitants from over 180 different cultures, Amsterdam is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world.
Amsterdam’s museums and architecture
Amsterdam has 51 museums, with a wide range of permanent collections and temporary exhibitions. The largest and most renowned institutions include: the Van Gogh Museum (world’s largest collection of the artist’s masterpieces), the Rijksmuseum (works of the 17th-century Dutch masters Rembrandt and Vermeer), the Stedelijk Museum (world-renowned bastion of modern and contemporary art), the Hermitage Amsterdam, the Anne Frank House, the baroque Royal Palace on the Dam square and the Rembrandthuis. There are also a surprising number of smaller museums, which exhibit a great diversity of art and collections in Amsterdam. The recent popularity of photography and multimedia has also flourished in Amsterdam.
A touch of green
Amsterdam has an abundance of park and open spaces, the largest of which (Amsterdamse Bos) is three times the size of New York’s Central Park.
Closer to the city centre, the Hortus Botanicus (Botanical Garden) and the Amstelpark (at the site of the original dam) are worth a visit for a little time in nature.
Even the Amsterdam Airport (Schiphol International) includes parklands within its grounds, accessible after clearing security.
Experience the different flavours of Amsterdam at restaurants, bars and local markets
Dining out in Amsterdam is as varied as its multicultural population ; as a result of over 180 nationalities of people living in Amsterdam, there is a wealth of international cuisine to choose from. Experience the exotic flavours of the Indonesian rice table, a specialty here, or dine in a genuine Bedouin tent. From authentic Spanish tapas and award-winning Japanese food to organic-focused fusion cuisine and Michelin-star French dishes. It is a global gastronomic scene in Amsterdam. So if your delegates are homesick for their own style of cooking or are in the mood for a culinary adventure, they will not be disappointed by the menu in Amsterdam. Many of the restaurants can accommodate groups and banquets and there are plenty of smaller establishments for guests looking for a more relaxing dining experience to end the day.
See you in Amsterdam for ECCMID 2019!